An American in Paris - Deuxième Parti
- Location: Versailles, France
- May 25, 2015
- 4 min read
“This is ridiculous.”
“This, Madame, is Versailles.”
One of my favorite quotes from one of my absolute favorite movies (Marie Antoinette – 2006); a movie which caused my borderline obsession with the Château de Versailles at the age of 17. Because, while the history is both complex and unpleasant, it is also rather fascinating, and the property’s lavish beauty cannot be overstated. – Also, watch the movie. Its really fun and the costumes, set design, and overall visual details of the film are just divine.
On our third and final day in Paris, I was finally able to make my dream of visiting a reality.
Early that morning, feeling classically French, I donned my wide-brim black hat, skinny black trousers, and black & white striped top (with a lovely chiffon bow across the back), whipped my leather jacket around my waist for the morning chill, and adorned my simple white purse with a flowing striped scarf for effect. After a generous application of bright, Springtime pink lip gloss, I was ready to throw myself into halls of Versailles.
THE PALACE
It was all I could do not to run from the train station to the gold gilded gates of the palace. Unfortunately, we came to a screeching halt in the courtyard as an enormous line had already formed, despite us having arrived 30+ minutes before opening. It took us a good hour or so to work our way through the line and into the entrance of the Palace. Once there, we were greeted with an even more unpleasant sight: hordes of tourists, jam-packed like sardines into the tiny, yet opulent, rooms. Brad had to watch the camera –and his face- for rogue elbows and hats, while simultaneously using his own arms as a barrier to rude visitors). I’ve never seen him work so hard to try and get a decent shot. By the end of the palace walk-through you could practically see the steam fuming from his nose and ears. I told him I admired his dedication to get some nice photos, where upon he confessed the only reason he’d tried so hard was for me – so I could admire the rooms without the worry of a camera, and so I’d have some nice pictures to take home and remember my visit.
AWWWW. ♥
Despite the crowds inside of the palace, it was really quite spectacular to behold. The rooms were just as I remembered from the sets of the movie and pictures in galleries. I got especially excited upon entering the Hall of Mirrors and Marie Antoinette’s chambers.
THE GARDENS
Here we found tranquility among some of the most beautiful grounds I’ve ever had the privilege to walk through. Most of the crowds were still inside the palace, smacking each other with selfie sticks and clustered together like cockroaches, which graced us with open views and even a stroll by ourselves through the Dauphin’s Grove. To top it all off, there were hidden speakers in the foliage which played soft Baroque music across the gardens (which I would normally find hokey, but was actually quite pleasing). After admiring the main grounds, we made our way through the Dauphin’s Grove and down a path lined with beautiful oak trees. Soon we found ourselves at the Grand Canal, where visitors could rent small row boats and glide out onto the water. Making a mental note to try that the next time we visit (oh yes, there will be many a next-time), we headed further into the grounds in search of the Petite Trianon – another one of my favorites.
MARIE ANTOINETTE'S ESTATE
Once inside the grounds of Marie Antoinette’s estate, we found the Petite Trianon easily and discovered it to be quite charming and the rooms far less overwhelming and occupied. We toured it in rather a short time, and then made our way around the back, through the Temple of Love, and on to the Queen’s Hamlet.
The Queen’s Hamlet was a provincial piece of heaven. It was a place Marie Antoinette had created as another escape from the pomp of Palace life. She found peace and happiness in the workings and charms of country life. Wandering around the paths, admiring the small vineyard and crops, we could understand why she found solace in this place. It was quiet and open; like a breath of fresh air after the confines of the Palace. Not to mention the charming little farm animals made even the burliest of men want to squeal in adorableness-overload. ;)
To finish our circle back to the Grand Canal, we wandered along the many secluded paths to the Grand Trianon. Much like the Petite Trianon, it was quaint in comparison to the Palace, but still quite regal, in every sense of the word.
After a short tour inside, we wandered around the grounds in search of food (that much opulence can make a girl hungry!). Luckily, we quickly found a little food cart selling baked potatoes nearby. Grabbing our piping hot spuds, some little bottles of Chardonnay and Rosé, and a quick stop at a confectionary for my first macaroons (oh my…yum!), we headed out onto the grassy grounds in front of the Petite Trianon. We lounged in the field under the shade of a tree, eating and drinking our fill as the sun dappled the leaves above us.
IT WAS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
After 7 hours of immersing ourselves in the affluence of the Palace and Trianons, holding hands while laughing and strolling through Gardens, and exhausting the shutter on our camera, we left the Château de Versailles and took a train back in to Paris. There, we packed up our belongings in the apartment we’d rented and left the City of Love, vowing to return within the year. I’m not sure I can remember a vacation that I enjoyed more than our trip to Paris, especially our absolutely divine day at Versailles.
♥M.
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